Wedge ice tray



J. B. HORVAY WEDGE ICE TRAY Feb. 8, 1955 Filed March 14, 1952 Pi .2.VIIIIII; a. Q '2 2O 6 7 Inventor: Julius B.Horvay,

His Attorney.

WEDGE ICE TRAY Julius B. Horvay, Erie, Pa., assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Application March 14, 1952, SerialNo. 276,638

9 Claims. ,(Cl. 62108.5)

My invention relates to ice trays used in refrigerators and pertainsmore particularly to grid structures employed in ice trays for dividingthe trays into ice block forming compartments.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an ice tray gridstructure including improved means for facilitating release of formedice blocks from the tray and the elements comprising the grid structure.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to andforming part of this specification.

ln carrying out the objects of my invention, I provide a grid structureincluding a central divider formed by an upper wedge and a lower wedge.The wedges are arranged so that the pointed portions thereof are injuxtaposed engaging relation. The upper wedge is movable downwardly toincrease the surface engagement thereof with the lower wedge. Increasedsurface engagement between the upper and lower wedges displaces thewedges laterally. Lateral displacement of the wedges exerts laterallydirected forces against ice blocks formed on either side of the centraldivider to effect the release of the ice blocks from the tray and theelements comprising the grid structure.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of anice tray, parts broken away to illustrate a grid structure embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken along the line 2-2 inFig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view illustrating an operating lever employed to operate mywedge release means, and showing the lever in its operated position; andFig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 in Fig. 3 and looking in thedirection of the arrows.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a grid or grid structure constructed inaccordance with my invention and generally designated 1. The grid 1 isadapted to be positioned in and to cooperate with an ice tray 2. The icetray 2 is formed to include a bottom wall 3, side walls 4 and end walls5. The tray 2 is of pressed sheet metal and the side walls 4 have suchflexibility that they will readily yield outwardly when ice blocks areforced laterally thereagainst, as during operation of ice blockreleasing means provided in the grid 1 and hereinafter described. Also,the side walls 4 are slightly inclined outwardly which causes ice blockspressed thereagainst to rise upwardly and partly out of the tray 2 toinsure the release thereof from the walls of the tray and to facilitateremoval of the ice blocks. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the grid 1 includesa central divider 6. The central divider 6 is formed by a longitudinaldownwardly pointing upper wedge 7 and a longitudinal upwardly pointinglower wedge 8. The wedges are arranged so that the pointed portionsthereof or the portions just adjacent the lower edge of the upper wedge7 and adjacent the upper edge of the lower wedge 8 are in side-by-sideor juxtaposed engaging relation. The upper wedge 7 is formed in theupper edge thereof with a series of spaced apart slots 9. The lowerwedge 8 is formed on the lower edge thereof with a corresponding seriesof spaced apart slots 10. The lower wedge 8 is further formed so as toconform to the bottom and end walls 3 and 5, respectively,'of the icetray 2.

The grid 1 includes further a plurality of transverse dividers 11. Thetransverse dividers 11 are each formed "Ice with a vertically elongatedcentral aperture 12. The apertures 12 receive the central divider 6,that is, the upper wedge 7 and lower wedge 8 comprising the centraldivider 6. The dimensions of the apertures 12 are such that the upperand lower wedges fit loosely therein and are displaceable bothvertically and laterally.

Portions of each of the transverse dividers 11 are inserted in one ofthe slots 9 in the upper edge of the upper divider 7 and in thecorresponding one of the slots 10 in the lower edge of the lower divider8. By this arrangement, the transverse dividers 11 are retained on thecentral divider 6 in spaced apart substantially parallel relation toprovide ice block forming compartments 13. Each compartment 13 includeswalls formed by the central divider 6, that is, the upper and lowerwedges, at least one transverse divider 11 and the bottom and side walls3 and 4, respectively, of the ice tray 2. The four end compartmentsadditionally include walls formed by the end walls 5 of the ice tray 2.

When ice blocks are frozen in the compartments 13, they become bonded tothe walls of the compartments or to the ice tray 2 and the variouselements comprising the grid structure 1. The bonds may be broken bymoving one or both of the wedges so as to increase the surfaceengagement between the wedges. By increasing the surface engagementbetween the wedges, the wedges are displaced laterally. Lateraldisplacement of the wedges exerts laterally directed forces against theice blocks formed on either side of the wedges or to the ice blocksformed in the compartments 13 separated by the central divider 6. Itwill be seen that by exerting ice block releasing forces laterally fromthe central divider 6, the ice blocks are released from all the elementscomprising the grid 1. Also, the ice blocks are pressed with a highforce against the somewhat flexible side walls 4 of the tray 2 whichcauses the side walls to bow outwardly slightly and the ice blocks toride upwardly on the slightly inclined side walls 4. This insures therelease of the ice blocks from those walls of the compartments 13 formedby the ice tray 2 and also facilitates removal of the ice blocks fromthe compartments. It will be seen further that it is the cooperation ofthe inclined inner sides of the upper and lower Wedges 7 and 8,respectively, which effects the lateral displacement of the wedgeswhereby the ice blocks are released. Therefore, while the upper andlower wedges are shown in the drawing as having both inclined inner andouter sides, the outer sides could be vertical and the wedges wouldstill be effectively displaced laterally for releasing the ice blockswhen the surface engagement between the inclined inner sides of thewedges is increased.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawing, I have chosen toincrease the surface engagement between the upper wedge 7 and the lowerwedge 8 for releasing the ice blocks by moving the upper wedgedownwardly while the lower wedge is maintained relatively stationaryregarding vertical movements. in order to effect the movement of theupper wedge downwardly in a facilitated manner, I employforce-multiplying means or leverage means. As seen in Fig. 1, I providetwo levers 14. The levers 14- are formed with pairs of pendent arms 15which straddle the ends of the lower wedge 8 and are pivotally connectedthereto by pins 16. Each end of the upper wedge 7 is formed with aportion 17 which is inclined and extends outwardly between the pendentarms 15 of the lever 14 connected to the corresponding end of the lowerwedge 8. Formed in each of the portions 17 is an outwardly inclined slot18. Disposed in each slot 18 is a stud 19 which extends fixedly betweenthe pendent arms 15 of the corresponding lever 14.

The transverse dividers 11 are formed with central upwardly extendingportions 20. Normally, as during the freezing of ice blocks in thecompartments 13, the levers 14 rest on the portions 20 of the transversedividers 11 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With the levers 14 atrest on the portions 20, the upper wedge 7 is maintained in the raisedposition thereof shown in Fig. 2. When the blocks are frozen and it isdesirous to release them for removal and use, the levers 14 are graspedat the inner ends thereof and operated or raised to the dot and dashline positions of Fig. 1, (the full line position of Fig. 3). As betterseen in Fig. 3, the raising or the pivotal movement of the lever 14about the pin 16 causes the stud 19 to cooperatewith the inclined slot 18. The

studs 19 travel in an arcuate path and the slots 18 are straight. As aresult, downwardly directed and multiplied forces are exerted on theends of the upper wedge 7. With this arrangement, movement of the upperwedge 7 downwardly is facilitated' Downward movement of limited to theparticular form shown and described and I intend by the appended claimsto cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a grid structure for cooperating with an ice tray to provide iceblock forming compartments, a compartment divider comprising alongitudinal divider consisting of a pair of oppositely point-ingwedges, said wedges being arranged with the pointed portions thereof injuxtaposed engaging relation, at least one of said wedges being movablefor increasing surface engagement between said wedges, increased surfaceengagement between said wedges effecting lateral displacement of saidwedges thereby to exert laterally directed forces againstice block-sformed in compartments separated by said wedges for facilitating therelease of said ice blocks from said compartments.

2. In a grid structure for cooperating with an ice tray to provide iceblock forming compartments, a compartment divider comprising alongitudinal divider consisting of a downwardly pointing upper wedge,and an upwardly pointing lower wedge, said upper wedge and said lowerwedge being arranged with the pointed portions thereof in juxtaposedengaging relation, said upper wedge being movable downwardly forincreasing surface engagement thereof with said lower wedge, increasedsurface engagement between said upper wedge and said lower wedgeeffecting lateral displacement of both said upper wedge and said lowerwedge thereby to exert laterally directed forces against ice blocksformed in compartments separated by said upper and said lower wedges forfacilitating the release of said ice blocks from said compartments.

3. In a grid structure for cooperating with an ice tray to provide iceblock forming compartments, a compartment divider comprising alongitudinal divider consisting of a downwardly pointing upper wedge, anupwardly pointing lower wedge, said upper wedge and said lower wedgebeing arranged with the pointed portions thereof in juxtaposed engagingrelation, and force-multiplying means operatable for moving said upperwedge downwardly to increase surface engagement between said upper wedgeand said lower wedge, increased surface engagement between said upperwedge and said lower Wedge effecting lateral displacement of both saidupper wedge and said lower wedge, thereby to exert laterally directedforces against ice blocks formed in compartments separated by said upperand said lower wedges for facilitating the release of said ice blocksfrom said compartments.

4. A grid structure adapted for cooperating with an ice tray to provideice block forming compartments comprising; a central divider consistingof a pair of oppositely pointing longitudinal Wedges, and a plurality oftransverse dividers carried spacedly on said central divider, saidwedges being arranged with the pointed portions thereof in juxtaposedengaging relation, at least one of said wedges being movable forincreasing surface engagegment between said wedges, increased surfaceengagement between said wedges eifecting lateral displacement of saidwedges thereby to exert laterally directed forces against ice blocksformed in compartments separated by said central divider forfacilitating the release of said ice blocks from said compartments.

5. A grid structure adapted for cooperating with an ice tray to provideice block forming compartments comprising; a central divider consistingof a longitudinal downwardly pointing upper wedge and a longitudinalupwardly pointing lower wedge, and a plurality of transverse dividerscarried spacedly onsaid central divider, said upper wedge and said lowerwedge being arranged with the pointed portions thereof in juxtaposedengaging relation, said upper wedge being movable downwardly forincreasingv surface engagement thereof with said lower wedge, increasedsurface engagement between said ,upper wedge and said lowerwedgeeifecting lateral displacement of both said upper wedge and saidlower wedge thereby to exert laterally directed forces against iceblocks formed in compartments separated by said central divider forfacilitating the release of said ice blocks from said compartments.

6. A grid structure adapted for cooperating with an ice tray to provideice block forming compartments comprising; a central divider consistingof a longitudinal downwardly pointing upper wedge and a longitudinalupwardly pointing lower wedge, a plurality of transverse dividerscarried spacedly on said central divider, said upper wedge and saidlower wedge being arranged with. thepointed portions thereof injuxtaposed engaging relation, and force-multiplying means operatable formoving said upper wedge downwardly to increase surface engagementbetween said upper wedge and said lower wedge, increasedsurfaceengagement between said upper wedge and said lower wedgeeffecting lateral displacement of both said upper wedge and saidlowerwedge. thereby to exert laterally directed forces against iceblocks formed in compartments separated by saidcentral dividerforfacilitating the release of said ice blocks. from said compartments.

7. A grid structure adapted for cooperating with an ice tray to provideice-block forming compartments comprising; a central dividerformed by apair of oppositely pointing longitiudinal wedges, said wedges beingarranged with the pointed portions thereof in juxtaposedengaging'relation, said wedges being formedwith corresponding series ofspaced apart slots in the edges, opposite the points thereof, apluralityuof transverse dividers formed with vertically elongatedcentral apertures, said central divider extending through .saidapertures in said transverse dividers, said transverse dividers beinginserted in said slots in saidwedges whereby said transverse dividersare retained spacedly on said central divider and said wedges aremovable for increasing surface engagement therebetween, and leverspivotally connected to the ends of one of said wedges, and. engaging theother, of said wedges, operation of said levers moving said other wedgefor increasing surface engagement between said wedges, increased surfaceengagement between said wedges effecting lateral displacement of saidwedges thereby to exert laterally directed-forces against ice blocksformed in compartments separated by said central divider for,facilitating the release of said ice blocks fromsaid compartments.

8. A grid'structure adapted for. cooperating with an ice tray to provideice block forming compartments comprising; a central dividerjformed byalongitudinal downwardly pointing upper wedge and a longitudinalupwardlypointing lower wedge, saidupper wedge and said lower wedgevbeingarranged with the pointed portions thereof injuxtaposed.engagingrelation, said upper wedge being formed with a seriesof spaced apart slots in the upper edge thereof, said lower wedgebeingformed with a corresponding series of spaced apart slots in the loweredge thereof, a plurality of transverse dividers formed with verticallyelongated central apertures, said central divider extending through saidapertures in said transverse dividers, said transverse dividers beinginserted in said slots in said upper wedge and said lower wedge wherebysaid transverse dividers are retained spacedly on said central dividerand said upper wedge is movable downwardly for increasing surfaceengagement thereof with said lower wedge, levers pivotally connected tothe ends of said .lower wedge and engaging said upper wedge, operationof said levers moving said upper wedge downwardly thereby to increasesurface engagement thereof with said lower wedge, increased surfaceengagement between said upper wedge and said lower wedge effectinglateral displacement of both said upper wedge and said lower vwedgethereby to exert laterally directed force against ice blocks formed incompartments separated by said central divider for facilitating therelease of said ice blocks from said compartments.

9. A grid structure adapted for cooperating with an ice tray to provideice blockv forming compartments comprising; a central divider formed bya longitudinal downwardly pointing, .upperwedge and a longitudinalupwardly pointingulower wedge, said-.upper wedge and said lower wedgebeing arranged. withthe pointedportions thereof in juxtaposed engaging.relation, said upper wedge being formed with aseries ofspacedgapart-slots in the upper edge thereof, said lower wedge being.formed with a corresponding series of spaced apart slots in the loweredge thereof, a plurality of transverse dividers formed with verticallyelongated central apertures, said central divider extending through saidapertures in said transverse dividers, said transverse dividers being inserted in said slots in said upper wedge and said lower wedge wherebysaid transverse dividers are retained spacedly on said central dividerand said upper Wedge is movable downwardly for increasing surfaceengagement thereof with said lower wedge, said upper wedge havingoutwardly inclined slots formed in the ends thereof, levers pivotallyconnected to the ends of said lower wedge, and a stud carried by each ofsaid levers and disposed in a corresponding one of said inclined slotsin said ends of said upper wedge, operation of said levers eifectingcooperation between said studs and said inclined slots for moving saidupper wedge downwardly thereby to increase surface engagement thereofwith said lower wedge, increased surface engagement between said upperwedge and said lower wedge effecting lateral displacement of both saidupper wedge and said lower wedge, thereby to exert laterally directedforces against ice blocks formed in compartments separated by saidcentral divider for facilitating the release of said ice blocks fromsaid compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,168,678 Miner Aug. 8, 1939 2,168,739 Miner Aug. 8, 1939 2,181,591Smellie Nov. 28, 1939 2,265,731 Haugh Dec. 9, 1941 2,289,848 MallardJuly 14, 1942 2,304,662 Shuart Dec. 8, 1942 2,345,799 Dodson Apr. 4,1944 2,351,303 Storer June 13, 1944 2,496,331 Buchanan Feb. 7, 1950

